Abstract:
This study focused on the trend of Public Relations practice in a non-profit
organisation, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, using the Grunig & Hunt Model of
Public Relations. Utilising the purposive sampling technique, a sample of twenty-five
(25) people was drawn from the Clergy and Laity of the Presbyterian Church and other
para-church groups. An in-depth interview was conducted and relevant Public Relations
documents on the Church were also analysed.
The findings indicated that the practice of Public Relations in the Church
compared favourably with the Grunig & Hunt Model though two eras, the Missionary and African Leadership eras overlapped. Key personalities such as Andreas Riis, Rt.
Rev. Sam Prempeh and Mr. G. B. K. Owusu contributed significantly to the practice of
Public Relations in the Church. The social value of Public Relations practice had been
of immense importance to both the Church and society in general.
As a result of the overlaps in the historical eras in the Church, the study
proposed that a replication of the study in another Christian-based organisation is
undertaken to ascertain any similarities or differences in the history of Public Relations
practice using the Grunig & Hunt Model.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of COMMUNICATION AND
MEDIA STUDIES, Faculty of LANGUAGES EDUCATION
submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University of
Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for
the award of the MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY
(COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES) degree.
JULY, 2011